On November 8, 2016, 57% of voters in California cast their ballot to pass Proposition 64, legalizing cannabis for recreational adult-use statewide. But what that means for Bay Area land conservation is still unfolding.
You’re invited to join us at our Fall Gathering on September 28, 2017 for what is sure to be a lively discussion on the implications of cannabis legalization for regional lands. You will hear about how policies could affect land management and agriculture, strategies to deter illegal grows, and opportunities for funding to restore impacted lands.
There’s more for you in this email on what we’ve been up to (pssst, the Conservation Lands Network Science Expansion Steering Committee has lift off!) as well as some important news and dates. Keep reading and doing the important work you do to support the Bay Area’s vibrant lands.
Happy August,
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Deb Callahan
Executive Director
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Sarah Noel Ross
Community Engagement Manager
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Conservation and Cannabis: A Complex and Timely Matter for Bay Area Lands
Photo by Prachatai, Flickr Creative Commons
There is an increasing awareness that illegal cannabis operations are having negative impacts on many Bay Area public and private lands. They impact the environments where they are located, often introducing chemicals that harm plants and wildlife, diverting water from creeks and streams, and creating areas that are unsafe to manage. The statewide legalization of recreational cannabis could address issues like these in a number of ways. Land managers and government officials are working to determine what the future holds — Will illegal grows decrease? Will agricultural land decrease? How much tax revenue will generated by cannabis sales?
Join us at our Fall Gathering on September 28, 2017 for a discussion on what legalization means for Bay Area lands. You will hear perspectives on:
- If legalization and regulation will make land management challenges easier to address for Bay Area conservationists and agriculturalists, or if things will stay status quo?
- Scenarios on how it might impact regional land values, land use, and agriculture.
- How on-the-ground strategies can deter illegal grows.
- Funding available to restore habitats impacted by grows, and how to obtain it
Our panelists are:
- Bill Keene, Moderator, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
- Hezekiah Allen, California Growers Association
- Leslie Lew, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
- Mark Fenstermaker or Alfredo Arredondo, Conservation Strategy Group
The Gathering will be held September 28, 2017 from 9:30am-1:00pm at the David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley. Lunch will be served and we’ll be using #OSCCannabis to talk about the event on social.
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CLN Science Expansion Steering Committee Kicks Off
The Conservation Lands Network turned six this year. To celebrate, the CLN is receiving a complete refresh of the underlying data, a reconfiguration of the network, and an expansion to communicate conservation co-benefits, relevant climate data, and key funding opportunities.
The 32-person Steering Committee representing numerous areas of scientific expertise met last week for the kick-off meeting. The project team presented the guiding principles to shepherd the update, what we’re calling the Science Expansion, and sought input from the Steering Committee on the methodological and strategic decisions ahead.
Do you want front row seats to the Science Expansion? Then sign up for our CLN blog and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
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- September 28, 2017 from 9:30am-1:00pm at the David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley – Gathering on cannabis legalization (see above for more details)
- November 16, 2017 from 9:30am-1:00pm at the David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley – Future Gathering details to follow.
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Don’t Miss Out on Our Blogs
Did you know that even though you’re receiving this monthly e-newsletter, you might be missing out on BAOSC content, event updates, member news, and regional stories from around the greater Bay Area?
- Subscribe to our BAOSC blog to make sure you don’t miss out on content relevant to the region, your work, and your interests. It’s also a great resource to find out about what happened during BAOSC events, check out speakers’ presentations, and learn about ways to further engage with them and the content they discussed.
- And subscribe to our Conservation Lands Network blog for news about updating and refreshing our regional conservation vision for the Bay Area.
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Photo by Angel Hertslet: Pepperwood Preserve.
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Copyright © 2017 Bay Area Open Space Council, All rights reserved.
This is The Loop – the monthly enewsletter of the Bay Area Open Space Council. You’re receiving this because you are a member, partner, donor, funder, or friend. We hope that you like what you see.
Our mailing address is:
Bay Area Open Space Council
2150 Allston Way, Suite 320
Berkeley, CA 94704
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